Diaphragm for dry-type gas meters



E. S. DICKEYY 4 DIAPHRAGM FOR DRY TYPE GAS METERS Filed August 30, '1922 s d ....'IIIHIH HU!7 i Dec. 14 1926.

' E. S. DIC'KEY v DIARH'RAGM FOR DRY-TYPE GAS METERS" Filed Augusil` 30, 1922 4 SheetsSAet 2 VlI/IIII//IIIIIIIL Dec, 1'4, 19126.`

v E. s. DICKEY DIAPHRAGM `FOR DIU;v T IPE GAS METERS Filed' August 3o, 1922 4 ants-sheet L@ f (VIII/Ill] Wil/ll atto: um,

1 Patented Dec. 14,1926.

EDMUND s. nroinY, or Yinn'1r;'rrivr'onn, MARYLAND, fr's'srrsfncn 'To Arlinn'ronu jranrnn y COMPANY, rnd, or NEW vom; in;

'A'f-ccnronnrron orf nntawann.

"hieran/neuron nnrfrvrneasianrnnas jappncatien aleafnugusf satiezaserial-n1585265. f

This invention relates to diaphragms -or Y dry type gasmeters. f J

Generally speaking, the practical meters for `ni'easuring gas have beenoftwo kinds, -5 wet and dry, and 'while ythevvet typev of ineter is the inost positive y inst-ruinent`tor' 1neas uring' the various gases, itsuselfor domestic purposes was found to beimpractica'ble'gdue toevaporation of Water, ahsorption otvater io by gases, thepossibility[and .likelihood-ofthe Water freezing, yetc.. `The \vet meterV on Vaecoiuit of its- I'na-ny disadvantages, some of which have just been mentioned, has been for domestic use entirely supersededv by the V15 dry n1eter,.or one in which there is combined@` I vagastight casing, andfgastight diaphraginsv of the bellotvsty-pe, the gas passingthrou'gh 'f the meter and. being alternately contained,

in passing," "in the casing; and thedirav 20-V phragingand controlledby Suitable valves It is tothe diaphragm' et'l these last I-I-ren-v tioned meters that Inyinvention relates.V

VYInf ord-er that aV complete understanding of the invention may he had, bothtroin .a

achievements and advantages` of .the iniprovement, the following preliminary stateynientis'inade. g Heretot'ore, Vso far as I ama'aware, the jlo'el'-V loWs'portion of the dry typegas meter diaphragms has beeninvariably inade-otilea'th-V er, andv particularly of' sheepskin, on ac-'.-

I count of the peculiar-physical characteristics ,possessed by this kind of skin or hide, such as pliability, strength, and absorbent'qualities that malte it receptive of the voils and other substances lwith which the leather is treated before going into the meter. During the periol of use of-:diaphragins madeytroin' sheen skin, ory duringapproXi'-, mately the last eighty V years, various atteinptshave-been niadeto nseiother, grades' j offleather, Y natural leather,` artiiiC-ial leather, VVand various other artificial n1aterials,f but Nwithout success, resulting finally,therefore,j 1j in' the labsence 'of' better material,y in thev defi-nite acceptance' by .all gas; companies a 1 icl: meterfmanutacturers, ofthe Vuse of a dia-Q V phragrn, the belloWs,. ,portion/ot which is.l

i v shrink', with'the'resu-ltantinaccurate'ineasrureinent'ofi gas, `fand otherdisadvantages Y' In the .preparation-o he purpose. mention'eig \it. vis Y especially j/i-inned fand ni-adef sott 1 andpliable, pc-3r1nit'f-, j a vting' it to begworled into. proper form -or "j Y ahaha 'for diaphragmrequirements, and atten 5 structural standpoint-,'-and of the- ,purposes,

yleather yfor` if. iss Pfoten au snpeflnmal phragmsi,-i t ini-1st beurthertreated `with an .f

application ot o ils orthepurpose ofcoun- Vteracting lthe gas action von `the Vleather,-and preventing the gas tro-1n rotting, drying out, "Shrmkln-,e er othervlse aleetlngthe condleof tionfof the diaphragm; .Furthermore 'the f llnaterials, troni Whichgasis/notv IInade ljor domestic' use, 'are not what were in the f past, vWhichjis` a subj ect,r ton-practical censidf eration `under prese-nt conditions.

Vto be,a'nd for many years, --gas was' generally Itused madeI 'from coal, and when so n n-ade, no great -diiiiculties were leperienced with meter dan phragrns,idueto yfthe fact that ycoal had a more or less benecialor preservative etl'ect 'on meter leathers. However, Within the 'last twentygftive years, gvvithj` the introduction 'of oil and Water gases,f and'v variousginixed gases, andk naturalgas, it'zwasnfound that the icondensates and agenciesot-these gases very quickly attaclI artificial oils' used in the treatment of meter diaphragins,destroying, absorbing,or otherwise eliminating them. r

elimination Vpermits' thei condensates andl agencies ,of the-last mentioned; gases'to attack the diaphragin'niaterial, rotting, drying out, bleaching, shrinking, and otherwise seriously atecting it, with the result thatthe length 'of service and vaccuracy of the .meter is curtaile'c oils have been tried to overcome ornuninuze theideleterious 'etlectsvoffthe gas uponl the `leathers,'but the use ofthese oils ,vvaslargely discontinued, rand, yfor them, mineral4 oils of Various animal and vegetable petroleum base were substituted, which Were,V

found tobe very helpful, and ina large de- Y gree, preventing the y( :ontinned deterioration of meter diaphragms from the actionot the n evver Ofa-ses.`v Nov'erthlelfess5iv leatherV ot the kind mentioned, r and other lnnds,..has yniany disadvantages, Whli-ch, abovel indicated, have been tolerated andjaccepted in the ah- Y. Y

Ysence ofbettermaterfial, {Arnongthe disadvantages intimatediareth'e lackof uiliifornr,

ity yin the thickness' and fcliaracten ofthe slringf'its tendency to @l hard and, th erefore, resistive of the gas flow through; the ,-meter, and itsftendency to known to persons skilled'inthis. art'. V

Furthermore, on :account y of the the "phragms are made, vthe bellows are caused at certain points to move inwardly between the diaphragml rings in collapsing, thus causing the curtailmentof capacity, and consequent inaccurate measurement.

leather'is treated, the oils do not completely penetrate or permeate the entire thickness of the leather, and the raction of the gas on the interior sect-ions ot the diaphragm fin timeremoves the oils and permits'drying oil thev 'leather withk the consequent disadvantagesV and results incident tok such con-` n dition.

To oyercome the disadva'iita'geszot' leather diaphragme, which `disadvantages have been above indicated, `l provide one, the bellowsV portion ol:`which is constructed oit plates` ot'textile material, preferably aY suitable woven fabric, constructed ina novel nuuiner. and treated ina novel manner, to not 'only completely seal the minute inteistices oft the fabric, and render the diaphragm ab-Y solutely impervious to gas (as Vit must be), 1- l nut at the saine time to vlubiicate trie iliaterials for Ysmooth and unitorm movement in expanding and collapsing of the bellows, thus reducing to a minimum the possibilities vfor gas absorption of lthe artificial Y lubri' cants of the bellows material, thereby maintainingthe continuedliexibility of thediahragm. ln producing such'adiaphragm, l have as'V a further objectto so construct theV iexible diaphragm material or fabric as to render it more etilectually receptive oit' the that give trouble later from seam leaks, noY

matterhow thoroughly the leather is treated or saturated with the artificial oils usually 1 employed. Whereaa .incident to stitching entirely 'through layers of textile fabric, there are none of these disadvantages, `since the characteroit the stitching is the saine as that oi 'the y materialV which surrounds it, and if anything,augmenting the filling pos-v sibilitiesjrather than detracting from .'tliein.

I have found by experiment that a closely Vwoven fabridlrnowln as middy twill Vinuslin` when mede and treated in accordance with 'iny inventioinserves admirably without any or the disadvantages and obJect-ions hereto-y fore noted, as a substitute forvsheep skin And still further, no matter how thoroughly the Vin the vconstruction ot vdi'ytype metei-.dia-

phragms, the explanation of theconsti'uctioii n and treatment of whicht'ollows:

In they drawings illustrating the invention: A Y F ig. l is an elevation Vot' a dry typeinet'er, the parts broke away to show the diaphragm therein. v f

, Fig. 2 isa plan view of a member or strip of textile fabric, oywhich the bellows poi'- tioii oi the diaphragm is made. l

Figz is a Vperspective cross sectional view ofthe strip, the thickness of the layers of iiiateria-l being` very greatly exaggerated;

Fig; i-'is a perspective view ot thestrip', zitter the filling material has been worked into the intersticcs ofthe material. y Figl is a perspective view of the .strip after it has been lilled, `toriiied'into a band preparatory to attac diaphragm rings,

Fig. '6 is yan Vedge elevatioi'ishowing the strip at :ached toy the rings.

Fig. 7' isl'an enlarged cross sectional view of a part ot the diaphragnrthe bellows-portion oft which is made (it my improved material and secured tov the'rings, it being in` tended to show the 'final condition of theV fabric alter it has been treatedbetweenits layers, and also upon its inner aiidfouterri peri-pheryy Fig. 8 is a perspective sectional vieu/"ot"-v the bellows portion of the diaphragm illustrating'a modification wherein said portion is shaped preparatory for attachment to the hing it to the metallicV Fig. 9 is a perspective sectional view show-- ing the bellows strip ivo-renin tubular toi F ig. 10 is a #fragmentary group of pla- JV of parts of thebellows strip showing'dit-- ferent formsy oi' stitching the layers gether.

Figill isa sectionalhvicw showing the" present y manner of stitching leather dia Jhiaom together.

, l n en .I f Y `Re'.teriing to the draiings, the numeral i.

sections ot a type Vmeter 'for measuring gas for domestic purposes. The numeral 2 designates the diaphragm as a whole, which isot'the bellows type, and litted'in the present instance, with myV improved lbellows material.V The .designates the casing of a conventional dry lili.'

numeral 3 designates the bellows portion ot the diaphragm, LIl the out i'v ring', 5 the llagstai'l plate, which is soldered. to theiin'gs, and 6 the flag.

No further description, it is believedglwill be needed with f i "fardto the vparts oi" the meter, because as before intimated, the invention here residesin the diaphragm itself.

Thenumeral 7 kdesignetes a strip'oi textile material toi-med folding ai piece of `fabricv of suitable width upon itself, thus forming two platesl or layers '8f and 9. r heretofore siiggested,"the"material is pref-Vv stitched .togethery vat their lside marginal edges, as Vindicated atliQ, land-,there is pros vided La, central longitudinal rowof :stitches ll, which .divides .tihe 'strip into two long itudinal pockets The central row yof stitching serves a four-fold purpose j1 together, :and'thereby eliminate any tendency that V'they may have lto-separate in the .exi Y pandmg and 4collapsing movenfientl to which.;

the diaphragm is subjected in use :or `operav tion Secondi: To inei'reas'e the @convenience inici# dent to :filling l,the strip with lpreservative l sealing lubricant to be introduced between the layers Third:,Theprovisionrby the stitches of a central stiliening. arc for the belflowsrtopre` vent any portion of the `bellmvs from told-f ing inward 'the'operation .of expanding and collapsing; and

Fourth: The ormationloff the"pockets'by` the stitches enables Vthe' lling material'to Hbe `more un-iormly and conveniently Worked into the interstices'ofthe fabric.

As shown ingFig. 9, )the strip be*V Woven in tubular form, -inl which casethel lines of stitching lO may, if ound'desirabl-e, be 'eliminated, andin eitherevent, when the, v

` central roWl ofsti-tching lllis made, the re'- su'lt .will be 'the pockets ll', similar in vall essential respectsto thepockets' l2.

Theseffafbric strips,` consisting as ing Widths, and are cut-in Varyinglengths foi-.making .diaphragmsv of vdifferent sizes',

filling-v and sealing material;`

As shown in Fig."8,"l`1'nay, p

' attachment of the strip to the ,diaphragm rings, shape the strip so? that it has a dome porticnl 12 Athat merges into lafterallyextending edge' liangeslSQso that whenl the estrip'isfsecuied' to thefrings,the portion Iof 'the bellows adjacent :the dome-portion will Yshow no puclter. anduwill vbe cmnpa-ratively smooth.

Y In the main I `have shoitrn'but three rows of'sti'tching, that is te say-,the rows 10;;- 'a'nd 11,1,bu't as shown in Fig. 10,*1th'e strips may be stitched in-va`rious`v forms. The

.operationl is ione, inthe Vnature v of quilting, l and. this isf doneV after the fillingand vsealing material has beenA placed between the layersandfworked intoathe interstices of the material,l These stitchesfserve admirably 'to further unite the layers' sol that thereis no possibilityo-thein separationinfoperatiomx andalso to -orni anumber ofL comparatiife -leuni jelly",4 produces filling'andseafling material.

' l-nthe form :shown in the VI v"stitches are Lniadev at `right .angles producing squane pocliets d, and in .suchra .case ,ptetiaginen't .0, .the

erablyf'the eentral'gsbiitc'hing' is doubled, as

i n indicated .at' ie,j"so lasl toV still matin-tain First: To .connect the ylayers ofthe strip lows, lsngthe l'nagment f, oblique stitchesg ane pnovidech'ffornaing in the Vmain"square pockets"haandfinthe'fragment i, the strips ame stitclie'd f additinnfajllyv :obliquely asfintli- L caited'at,jyormingobliquepoclietslm It y should 'bennderstoodg however,ithaft:l do not l deSimeta-'lrimit myse'lfiin yany way tothe? forni Sor manner of stitching'fthese layerstogether, 'g' as eobvieusly, the Y eie'ctl; would rbe Substantially the saine, reganclzle'ssf of lthe direction of the stitching, i 'ier VvWhether `fthe' stitchesfwere straight or' unclu'latory. `The elect would. :be in" any eyent, to unite the layers Vof vifabric vto :.*insuretheir nnntormk l mmlementV together, andto :form pockets for: f

the 'illing fand Vsealing material, andl lthose.

lforms lshown inliiglO, varenierely speci-v Thenumeral '14V designates a yfiller* of preeservaftive lubricant, preferablyldrypowdered s Wise orglongit-ud'inal pockets yformed inthe@ f Y strip, throughout 'the ent-ire` length for' `lthe" strip, as 'shfmnin Fig. 3, Wliichiliibricanlt j' is Worked-into the Yin'terstices ,of vthe'ffa'bric completely filling" them, in "which operation of Working-in, lthe illenftlie'illzer 'asia'd'efinite vvisiblelayer disap'pears,"l becoming homogeneous Y part t of) the YA1st-rip, VVwhich 'l It Wil-l be "noted thatv thestitches l0 arefl edgesoftlie strip, as to leave considerable* marginal 'edges a for convenient attachi'iient i of `thestrip to-tlie-dlaphragm'rings, as'

lter the is treated tlie' Way indi? l cated, from theinside,it isl placed upon the metallicr diaphragm rings "and secured there# y to'by 'cords l5' infthe Vusual manner, and fthe' cords arefcoateclv with Sl1ellac,f also inthe usual mannen Then the 'inner *andjf outer-lj peiipheriesj.off tliestrip a'retreated furtherl with a' jiller and 'lubricant-,fixihich unites and l combines lwith4 the graphitellig which `has been previously' 1 int'ro'dur'ied between'- thev '1501 layers'of the strip, as 'indicated at b- Fig,v

7. 'I'havegound for this 'outsidetreatment mirabile'l results.v

lthat La combination of dry' powdered graph-1 Y lite 'andpetioleum jelly, V'i'nixed in about the' 1 proportions" of lrh ree 'ounces ot suitablegrade" 1graphitep-With two pounds VVo imineial petrol 'a- Agreasethat: gii'zes'y ald-FJ, j

l't Wil l be noted 'that ftheConstructionof" s vthejstifip` *is such," that isjt'oi say, having-v vpockets yandfleeingV ormedi provides vfor the ready introduction of the powdered graphite, this filler, in combination with the lubricant applied on-the outside peripheries of the strip, acting asa preservative lubricant and seal forthe fabric,

, being permanently held in position bythe Vfabric itself. The graphite 'and other lma-A terials used are of suoli nature as to be prac- Y tically non-soluble undergases gas condensates, and forinfin combination with the fabric, a' permanent .gdiaphragnnfor rather n bellows portionthereof, due to the fact that said lubricant is artificiallyplaced n the Youter rvface and `onk theinner tface of the fabric, and is also contained in the intermef diate space between the two layers lof the fabric, constituting the finished article.;

.In the manufacture of the diaphragm,

after the e. straight graphite, the material which is contained between the layers `of they strip offabric, is worledinto the interstices Y of the fabric, and after the iilled fabric is'- additionally stitched i. asillustrated in/Fig. l0, where. suoli 'additionalstitohes are employed at all, both sides or outer'suriaces of the diaphragm are treated with a graphite Y grease, which as above stated, is made of a combination or mixture of dry powdered graphite. of ,propergrade and consistency, Y and a suitable, grease, suoli as petroleum Jelly.VV This grease mixture should be ap-rk Y f plied'torthe fabric at a temperature of approximately 120C,J `Fahrenheit.

Y, 'Merely to show the'presentrmethod lof Stitching together Vsections of leather which go to 'make upr the Yordinary leather 'diai. phragm, I have added Fig` l1.'V lReferring to this'iigure,y the numeralsl and 17 desigf Vnate two leather sections,- whose ends are overlapped as indicated at 18,` thel sections being stitched together by stitches 219, which it .will be observed do not extend ventirely through tlie'sections at points ,exposed to gas action. n Y i Experiment has demonstrated that a diaphragm made of woven fabric, treated in the manner stated, isextremely iexible, and v is-absolutely gastight, and has also demon- Y strated, so far as the lengthof timeY alreadyy consumed in the experiments can demonstrate, is Yabsolutely non-susceptible' tofthe .deteriorating actions of the ordinarygas,

'metenv Y Y v x I It has been found also that the: provision as vwell ascbeing absolutely accurate Yin the measurementY of gas*` passing through the a of the -central or longitudinal stitching of theV stripforms, after treatment and in the completed article, a stiifenedaro for therbelT 'lows,1thusinsuringat all tinieslthe proper movement of the bellows, and thus eliminatingthe likelihood of portions ofthe bellows Vfolding inward. betweeiij the diaphragm ringsjin' the collapsing movement of the diaphragmin' operation.

tween the fabric layers.

Claims: w i e Y l. A vdiaphragm for dry type gas meters,

having a bellows' portion made of textilev mixture of'materials forming a preservativeV ture of graphite and grease.

of a plurality of layers of textile material forming the outer and inner portions ofthe diaphragm, a filling of sealing material between tlie layers whereby the interstices of the fabric are sealed andimade gast-ight.

3. A. diaphragm for dry type gas meters, having the bellows portion thereof formedl Vtreated with a lubricantV foin'ied of a mixil. A diaphragm for dry. type gas meters,

hating; a bellows portion formed of-woven fabric arranged inl a'rplurality ofV layers, a tillerfbetweenthe layers consist-ing `of lpowdered graphite adapted to 'v-fill, seal and lubricate vthe interstices of lthe fabric, and an outer coating of a mixture of powderectV graphite l and grease.

k5. A diaphragm for dry type gas meters,

having a bellows portion, comprising a strip of woven fabricarranged in a plurality of layers forming a n longitudinal pocket orv pockets between thelayers for the reception ofra sealing and lubricating material, wherebythe interstices of they fabric are filled.

'6. lA diaphragm for dry type gas meters,V

comprising a bellows portionformed `ofva strip of textile fabric'arrangedin two layers, 1

thus forming arpoclret forthe receptioii'of a lubricatingand ysealing material designed fabric foruthev to lill the interstices of the purpose set forth,

7. A diaphragm vfor dry type gasmeters,

having a bellows portion comprising a strip of woven fabric formed in layers and stitched llO longitudinallybetween its marginal edges to formV pockets, a iilling Zof powdered graphite within saidV pockets, an exterior,y

and interior liiller, which, when applied to said fabric, will combine with'the filler be-V 8. A diaphragm for dry type gasmeters, having a bellows portion formed of a strip y ofy woveny fabric, having a plurality of layl ers,` arrow off-'stitching in the center of sai-dr? strip forming longitudinal pockets for the reception of asuitabl'e filler designedtorfill the interstices ofi the fabric, said .row-of.

` stitchingalso serv-ing to stiffen'the arcl of y said bellows portion, and

Y E preventingits'collapse while incperation. .v Y

9. A diaphragmfor dry type gas meters,

havingVv aV bellows portion formed:y offa plurality 'oflayersof textile material, alillingwrlvY Y of lubricating material between said layers which fills `and seals the interstices of the fabric, and a coating oflubricating material n on the outer sides of said'layers cooperating .with the material between the layers for ef-A` festive sealing and lubrication.

v10. A diaphragm for dry type gas meters,

i having a bellows portion thereof formed of a strip of textile material made in layers,

andl united at its marginal edges, and unitedy longitudinally intermediate of said edges,

Yt-he intermediate union serving as a stiffening arc for the bellows, andfalso forming with the united marginal edges of the stripv longitudinalpockets foi-.the reception of a,

sealing medium for closing the interstices yof the fabric.

1l. A diaphragm for ldry type gas'meters, having a bellows portion of ka strip of tei:-v tile material made in layers, and united at lits marginal Vvedges,`and united longituo dinally intermediate of'said edges, the intermediate union serving asa stiening arc.

for thebellows, and also forming with the united marginal edges of the strip longi-v tudinal pockets, afilling between the layers of dry graphite,and av coating on the` inner and outer sides-of the layers consistingof a mixture of graphite and mineral greaseV which unites with the filler between the layers for effective sealing and lubrication.

l2. A diaphragm for dry type gas meters, havin a bellows portion made of textile material formed in al plurality. of layers stitched togetherfor the purpose set forth,

and a filling of sealing material between the layers whereby the nterstices of theV fabric are sealed and made. gastight.

13. A diaphragm for dry type gas meters,

having a bellows portion madeofktextile material, formed of a plurality of layers, stitching uniting said layers intermediate of rality of layers of flexible material, a filler between the layers adapted to fill and'seal said material impervious to gas, andtoinare sealed andmade ythe interstices of the material, and render sur@ the manueel fiexibiiity Vof the mav terial. v Y Y, n

15. A diaphragm forV dry type gas meters,

havingl abellows portion'form'ed of a plurality of layers of flexible material, a filler between the layers adapted to fill' and seal the `intersti'ces of t-he material andrender said material impervious to gas, and a coating on i both outside faces of the layers adapted to combine with the filler between the layers for furtherfeifective filling and sealing of said material, and to insure the continued flexibility of the material., Y 3

v16. A diaphragm for dry type gas meters,

having a bellows portion formed ofl a plurality ofilayers of flexibley material, a filler between the layers-adapted to render said material impervious to gas, and tol insure vthe continuedl flexibility of thematerial.Y

' 17. A diaphragm for dry type gas meters',

having a bellows portion formed of a plu-l rality of layers of flexible material, a filler between the layersadapted to render said `material kimpervious to gas, saidV bellows portionbeing normally shaped with 4an annular dome portion and annular edge flanges to facilitate the attachment of the material to the diaphragm rings, substantially as and for the .purpose setforth.l f

In'testimony whereofl affixmy signature.

7 1 Viiniiurin s. DicKiiY. 

